// make sure the $ is pointing to JQuery and not some other library
(function($){
    // add a new method to JQuery
    
    $.fn.equalHeight = function(){
	// find the tallest height in the collection
	// that was passed in (.column)
	tallest = 0;
	this.each(function(){
	    thisHeight = $(this).height();
	    if (thisHeight > tallest)
		tallest = thisHeight;
	});
	
	// set each items height to use the tallest value found
	this.each(function(){
	    $(this).height(tallest);
	});
    }
})(jQuery);